Yhtomit due by this Sunday-If your name isnt Yhtomit, don't even ask!

Running head: Gambling 1

Gambling 5

Ethical Problems of Gambling

Azurdee Brown

Soc 120/Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility

Dr. James Castleberry

November 21, 2015

When people bet on scratch cards, sports, roulette or poker in a casino or online sites, they risk getting addicted to gambling. Gambling addiction can strain relationships, lead to financial stain and interfere with work. Individuals may also do things they never thought they could do before gambling addiction such as stealing money to gamble and pay gambling debts. Gambling is addictive but with the right kind of help; individuals can overcome gambling and eventually regained control of their lives. However, to do this, individuals should first start by acknowledging and recognizing the addiction problem. Gambling addiction could also be referred to as compulsive gambling. This is a type of impulse-control behavior (Narveson, 2009).

Individuals addicted to gambling are unable to control their impulses to gamble even when they are well aware that gambling hurts them and their loved ones. Compulsive gamblers gamble whether they have the money or not (Barnett, 2010). Gamblers have a serious problem, especially when the behavior is out of control. Individuals addicted to gambling tend to be preoccupied with gambling behavior that eventually disrupts their lives. Gambling takes up a lot of valuable time and money. However, it is important to note that gambling is only a problem if it causes the individual or their loved one's problems.

Gambling types could range from state sponsored lotteries, sports betting or casino gambling. Dog and horse betting and online gambling. Recently, truck stops, convenient stores, and bars have installed slot machines for their customers. Gambling addiction traits are often related to the symptoms of substance abuse (Narveson, 2009). Gambling is a persistent and ongoing behavior that occurs when individuals are not able to control their impulses to partake in gambling. Research shows that gambling addiction leads to devastating circumstances for the individual and their loved ones.

Studies have also shown that individuals addicted to gambling also become extremely physically, verbally and emotionally abusive due to the stress that results from addiction. Utilitarianism would be the best theory in curbing the problem of gambling. Utilitarianism conflicts with ordinary moral thinking in several ways. This could be attributed to the fact that utilitarianism is a type of consequentialism. Any acts of consequentialism conflict with conventional moral thinking. A natural way that individuals could use to determine whether acts are wrong or right is by analyzing the consequences of the actions. Utilitarianism argues that individuals are given a set of choices. They should choose the acts that produced the best results (Barnett, 2010). Taking the money that is intended for family development and lying to one’s loved ones is not producing the best results.

The destruction of one’s family does not even detour gamblers. Gambling is a compulsive and addictive behavior. Utilitarianism maintains that the wrongness or rightness of one’s conduct is entirely dependent on the consequences of the actions. This theoretical perspective also proposes that the welfare of individuals is equally essential and could be enhanced to achieve the highest degree of welfare (Narveson, 2009). The challenge with this school of thought is that consequences of actions are relative; they may vary from individual to individual. Consequences of actions vary significantly depending on how deep one analyzes their future. As a result, individuals such as gamblers make decisions according to their categories of useful rules without trying to determine the consequences of their actions.

Emotivism also offers a perspective on various ethical claims in regards to gambling. This school of thought sees individuals’ moral evaluations as expressions of the attitudes of actions. This is the theory that proposes that ethical judgments are basic expressions of individuals’ attitudes and imperatives. This theory proposes that individuals should use their ethical judgments to gauge the rightness and wrongness of gambling (Leatherman, 2010). However, one cannot consider emotional expressions as right or wrong. For the emotivist, moral language is essential in influencing behavior and expressing various attitudes. This theory also proposes that any reason that motivates behavior is a good reason as that is the object of moral language. This school of thought is based on individuals’ emotions that are felt all the time and can be measured or felt.

Whether and action is morally wrong or right is entirely dependent on the consequences. The main argument in the utilitarian school of thought is that happiness is a good thing. However, one’s happiness should not be at the expense of another, and there is no point of engaging in actions that are detrimental to our happiness (Narveson, 2009). Many values and traditions in various societies are valuable and beneficial. However, some are harmful. Acceptance of utilitarianism by the society will be beneficial in preserving beneficial traditions and getting rid of the harmful ones. In my opinion, gambling is harmful to an individual and their loved ones if it is not controlled. Compulsive gamblers often require the support of their friends and families in quitting the addictive habit. Individuals should seek the support of others with same struggles and understand the importance of treating the addiction no matter how long it will take.

References

Barnett, W. (2010). Response to McGowan's Comment on “The Social Costs of Gambling: An Economic Perspective”. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23-24.

Leatherman, S. (2010). How emotivism survives immoralists, irrationality, and depression. The Southern Journal of Philosophy, 32-33.

Narveson, J. (2009). Gambling & the state. Theory and Decision, 41-42.